Double amputee Marine vet fulfills dream of becoming cop

BRENTWOOD, N.Y. (WCBS / CNN Newsource / WKRC) - Matias Ferreira, a military vet in Long Island, is fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a New York cop.

While serving as a US Marine in 2011, he lost both legs below the knee after stepping on an IED in Afghanistan. After getting prosthetic legs, he began playing on an all-amputee softball team that traveled the country.

He said, "Our motto is life without limbs is limitless. We're able to do the things that we use to do and more."

Born in Uruguay, he came to the US when he was 6 years old. His mother said that before he became a Marine, he always wanted to be a police officer.

He is graduating with a class that is "full of heroes, out of 80 recruits more than 70% are Military veterans and more than 30% have previous law enforcement experience."

Ferreira is believed to be the first fully active double amputee police officer in the country. He is expected to start next week, with no restrictions on the job.

After a long journey, his family got to celebrate his police graduation with many hugs and tears.